How To Make Jamaican Escovitch Fish

Escovitch Fish is a popular Jamaican dish known for its flavorful fried fish topped with a spicy and tangy pickled vegetable sauce. Here’s a simple recipe for making Escovitch Fish:

Ingredients:

For the Fried Fish:

• 2 lbs whole fish (snapper or parrotfish are commonly used)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Vegetable oil for frying

For the Escovitch Sauce:

• 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 1 cup thinly sliced onions
• 1 cup thinly sliced bell peppers (use a mix of colors for visual appeal)
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, thinly sliced (adjust according to your spice preference)
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon whole pimento seeds (allspice)
• 4 sprigs thyme
• 4 pimento berries (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions:

Fried Fish:

1. Clean and scale the fish, if necessary. Make shallow cuts on both sides of the fish to help it cook evenly.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, and black pepper.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan or deep fryer over medium-high heat.
4. Dredge each fish in the flour mixture, ensuring it’s well-coated.
5. Fry the fish until golden brown on both sides. This should take about 5-7 minutes per side, depending on the size of the fish.
6. Once cooked, place the fried fish on paper towels to drain excess oil.

Escovitch Sauce:

1. In a separate saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, thyme, pimento seeds, and minced garlic. Bring the mixture to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
3. In a skillet, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the sliced carrots, onions, bell peppers, and Scotch bonnet peppers. Sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened but still crisp.
4. Pour the vinegar mixture over the sautéed vegetables and stir well. Let it simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
5. Pour the hot escovitch sauce over the fried fish, ensuring the vegetables are evenly distributed.
6. Allow the dish to marinate for a few minutes before serving.

Serve your Escovitch Fish with traditional Jamaican sides like bammy, festival, or rice and peas. Enjoy your flavorful and spicy Jamaican seafood dish!